The world's economic powerhouses could face significant challenges in 2025, as conventional growth drivers and the potential of Artificial Intelligence are put to the test. Countries must reassess these factors if they wish to stay competitive.

Fortera Capital, a private-equity juggernaut under the wing of Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment Co, spearheaded the recent series B funding round for the AI start-up, Stepfun. The investment is said to be in the region of hundreds of millions of dollars, significantly bolstering Stepfun's financial firepower.

Li Auto, China's answer to Tesla, has ambitious plans to evolve into an AI and robotics powerhouse. With level-4 autonomous driving under its belt, the luxury electric vehicle manufacturer now sets its sights on developing humanoid robots, reveals CEO Li Xiang.

Harbin, China's frosty paradise, is set to lure more international visitors. A strategy to boost China's snow and ice industry includes lengthening the period of visa-free transitory visits.

Huawei's latest top-tier smartphones are breaking tradition by utilizing memory chips from South Korea's SK Hynix, as opposed to the Chinese-made chips typically found in their previous models. This unexpected switch was revealed during a recent teardown analysis of the Mate 70 series.

In a recent strategic shake-up, Ant Group has partitioned Alipay into two distinct business divisions. A unique 'rotating presidential system' will govern these new units, with each president holding office for a six-month tenure.

China's finance ministry has pledged to instigate actions to stimulate spending and investment in the coming year. The meeting also outlined other key objectives including the fortification of supply chains, increased financial support for tech-centric start-ups, and extended help to struggling businesses.

In the midst of escalating rivalry, the American retail giant, Amazon, has begun to monitor product pricing on the competing platform, Temu, as per reports from merchants. This move comes as a response to Chinese sellers offering lower prices on the platform.

China's CATL has unveiled an advanced Electric Vehicle (EV) chassis designed to endure high-speed impacts. This cutting-edge technology will be initially adopted by Avatr, Changan Auto, and Huawei. Remarkably, this chassis houses a battery boasting an impressive 1,000km range.

The Chinese State Council is courting private investment, including from the UK, into its railway system. It promises transparent pricing, abolishing regional restrictions, and ensuring equal opportunities for all businesses, in an effort to rejuvenate its logistics sector.

The economic climate in China is growing increasingly bleak as small-business owners resort to staff cuts and shop closures in response to a deepening consumption slump. This escalating situation adds a new layer of complexity to China's already troubled economy, providing a fascinating topic for those in the UK keenly observing global financial trends.

The worth of Chinese electric vehicle exports slumped by 42% due to EU tariffs. A 19% drop was noted in export volumes last month as declining prices further reduced the value of shipments.